This is how much more you might be paying to jet off for the Easter weekend than last year

Dubai remains a firm favourite for an Easter getaway

The research conducted by travel experts, Kayak.co.uk, has revealed that popular destinations are around thirty per cent more expensive, compared to Easter weekend in 2017.

However, Dubai and Amsterdam remain firm favourites for Easter getaways. The metropolis of Dubai enjoys a good all-year-round climate, with an average temperature of between 28-29C expected over the Easter weekend.

Flights to the sun-kissed Emirate have risen by 49 per cent, with return flights costing on average £155 more than they would of last year.

We have noticed a trend in recent years for many Brits to go on more, shorter holidays throughout the year rather than one long summer holiday

Neil Cartwright

Prices to Amsterdam have also seen a 13 per cent rise. The average cost of a return flight over the Easter weekend was £100 in 2017. This year it has risen to £113.

Malaga has moved up in popularity, however the increased interest has come at a cost – prices are up 40 per cent compared to last year.

This means return flights to the Andalusian city now cost £170 over the Easter period, compared to £121 in 2017.

Flights to other popular European city break destinations have also risen. A return flight to Paris now costs £126, when it used to cost £91 (up 36 per cent), while heading to the bohemian city of Barcelona over Easter has risen 14 per cent to £148.

The research also revealed what cities are trending in 2018, with Istanbul enjoying a 160 per increase in searches, compared to 2017.

Middle Eastern destinations such as Abu Dhabi and Doha are also expecting to welcome more holidaymakers over the festive period, indicated by an increase in searches of 67 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.

According to the travel search engine’s research, popularity in these far flung destinations contrasts greatly with 2017’s findings, when sun-deprived Britons were searching for Mediterranean getaways to the Grecian islands of Santorini and Crete.

Neil Cartwright, travel expert at Kayak.co.uk, commented: “We have noticed a trend in recent years for many Brits to go on more, shorter holidays throughout the year rather than one long summer holiday.

Amsterdam is also high on the list of Easter trips

“Our data shows that for many British travellers, Easter is now a key time for fitting in one of these shorter holidays.

“And rather than leaving it to the last minute, Brits are planning well in advance in order to secure travel deals on the Easter weekend getaway.

“For those who haven’t booked anything yet, KAYAK tools like Explore can help give a boost of inspiration – users can simply enter their budget and Explore will tell them where they can go for this price.”

Results: costs of the ten most popular Easter destinations in 2017 and 2018

Dubai – average return flight price Easter weekend 2017: £317, compared with £472 in 2018 with a 49 per cent increase in price

Amsterdam – £100 in 2017 compared with £113 in 2018, 13 per cent increase in price

Malaga – £121 in 2017 compared with £170 in 2018, 40 per cent increase in price

Barcelona – £130 in 2017 compared with £148 in 2018, 14 per cent increase in price

Alicante – £119 in 2017 compared with £169 in 2018, 42 per cent increase in price

Paris – £91 in 2017 compared with £126 in 2018, 38 per cent increase in price

Istanbul – £157 in 2017 compared with £207 in 2018, 32 per cent increase in price

Rome – £137 in 2017 compared with £154 in 2018, 12 per cent increase in price

Faro – £121 in 2017 compared with £178 in 2018, 47 per cent increase in price